Factors Influencing Adherence to Physical Exercise Rehabilitation during the First Three Months Post-Stroke among Adults with First-Onset Stroke

Purpose: This study aimed to identify key predictive factors influencing adherence to physical exercise rehabilitation among adults during the first three months following a first-onset ischemic stroke in China. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 137 adults who attended clinical follow-up appointments within the first three months after experiencing a first-onset ischemic stroke. Predictors included family support, coping with role transition, depression, self-efficacy, and body image. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. Results: The mean adherence score for physical exercise rehabilitation was 39.58 (standard deviation=6.71), indicating a moderate adherence level (70.6%). In model 1, male sex (β=.20, p=.017) and post-stroke duration of 2 months (β=.31, p=.015) and 3 months (β=.39, p=.002) were significant predictors of adherence to physical exercise rehabilitation. Adding main predictors in model 2 resulted in a significant increase in explained variance (ΔR²=.418, p<.001), accounting for 51.5% of the total variance (R²=.515, adjusted R²=.484). Male sex (β=.15, p=.017), family support (β=.43, p<.001), self-efficacy (β=.26, p<.001), depression (β=–.24, p=.001), and coping with role transition (β=.16, p=.033) were significant predictors. Body image and post-stroke duration were not significant after adjustment. Conclusion: Efforts to promote adherence to physical exercise rehabilitation should prioritize family support, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and coping with role transition. Furthermore, body image may warrant attention when developing sex-specific intervention strategies.